Apparatus for returning vehicle body and frame components to their original locations during repair and servicing of vehicles

ABSTRACT

Apparatus is provided to apply pulling forces from any direction from any elevation around a vehicle being repaired and/or serviced. The apparatus is arranged so personnel using it are concerned with minimal physical lifting movements and minimal setup arrangements of the apparatus. Each embodiment of the apparatus utilizes at least one tower assembly equipped with an elongating subassembly to move a tension member, through directional change devices, as it remains secured to some portion of a vehicle, thereby undergoing at least one repositioning pull in a direction opposite to at least one prior force that previously caused some of the damage and/or misalignment Depending on the magnitude of the restoring force required, the tower, other towers, and/or other structures may be secured together and/or to the vehicle as well, to create a firm basis for anchoring the apparatus and/or the vehicle as one or more reactive forces are controllably created. Depending on the anticipated use of the apparatus and the capital expenditures to be made, the apparatus is made available in different embodiments, ranging from a sole location of a tower to multiple locations of several towers related to overall reactive structures and/or vehicle ramps serving as mutual multiple holding or anchoring places of forces applied to the vehicle, as the elongating subassemblies of the towers are moved to create the restorative pulling forces.

United States Patent Inventor Finis L. Chisum Star Route A, Box 1721 E,Spenard, Alaska 99502 Appl. No. 810,940

Filed Mar. 27, I969 Patented Dec. 28, 1971 APPARATUS FOR RETURNINGVEHICLE BODY AND FRAME COMPONENTS TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATIONS DURINGREPAIR AND SERVICING OF VEHICLES 8 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 72/305, 72/705 [51] Int. Cl B2ld 11/04 [50] Field of Search72/705, 305;254/132, 133,93

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,705,040 3/1955 Howick72/705 X 2,717,020 9/1955 Dobias 72/705 X 3,338,083 8/1967 Eck 72/705 X3,269,169 8/1966 Latuff... 72/705 X 3,340,720 9/1967 Chartier 72/705 XFOREIGN PATENTS 249,933 3/1962 Australia 72/705 697,873 11/1964 Canada72/705 624,074 8/1961 Italy 254/134 Primary Examiner-Charles W. LanhamAssistant Examiner-Michael .l. Keenan Attorney-Head & Johnson ABSTRACT:Apparatus is provided to apply pulling forces from any direction fromany elevation around a vehicle being repaired and/or serviced. Theapparatus is arranged so personnel using it are concerned with minimalphysical lifting movements and minimal setup arrangements of theapparatus. Each embodiment of the apparatus utilizes at least one towerassembly equipped with an elongating subassembly to move a tensionmember, through directional change devices, as it remains secured tosome portion of a vehicle, thereby un dergoing at least onerepositioning pull in a direction opposite to at least one prior forcethat previously caused some of the damage and/or misalignment Dependingon the magnitude of the restoring force required, the tower, othertowers, and/or other structures may be secured together and/or to thevehicle as well, to create a firm basis for anchoring the apparatusand/or the vehicle as one or more reactive forces are controllablycreated. Depending on the anticipated use of the apparatus and thecapital expenditures to be made, the apparatus is made available indifferent embodiments, ranging from a sole location of a tower tomultiple locations of several towers related to overall reactivestructures and/or vehicle ramps serving as mutual multiple holding oranchoring places of forces applied to the vehicle, as the elongatingsubassemblies of the towers are moved to create the restorative pullingforces.

PATENTED m2 8 I971 INVENTOR.

FINIS LAVELL CHISUM A T TORNE Y5 PATENIEDUECZBIM 3530 05 5 sum 3 or 3lA/VENTOR.

FINIS LAVELL CHISUM A T TOR/V5 Y5 APPARATUS FOR RETURNING VEHICLE BODYAND FRAME COMPONENTS TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATIONS DURING REPAIR ANDSERVICING OF VEHICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Present apparatusknown to be available for correcting misalignment of vehicles and forreturning frame and body members of vehicles back to their predamagelocations, as such services are preformed by personnel in body shops andother service and repair shops, are not conveniently set up and operatedto meet the demands of personnel in various size repair shops. Thisinvention is ofiered in multiple embodiments to meet differentrequirements of cost, convenience and service of many shops whereinpersonnel are seeking better apparatus to more economically performtheir re-alignment and body repair services.

The apparatus known to be available prior to this invention, requiredpersonnel using it to make many lifts of heavy and/or awkward componentsunder awkward footing and overhead conditions during time consumingsetup periods. This was necessary to try to place components in variouswanted positions, many not being directly obtainable, where theresulting pulling forces would be applied most advantageously to restorevehicle frames and bodies to their originally designed positions. Whereprior attempts were made to obtain a greater range of pulling andanchoring locations, the resulting apparatus was often complex, large,costly, and inconvenient to manipulate, and moreover, often requiringspecial building configurations such as higher overhead space and/orfloor pits.

In contrast, this invention, in its various embodiments, to be selecteddepending on the anticipated volume of such repairs to be undertaken andthe capital funds available, is provided so personnel may convenientlyand quickly arrange the apparatus to pull on a vehicle frame and/or bodyin the most advantageous direction at one or more locations. As abusiness grows, the offered embodiments are conveniently andeconomically increased in capacity by acquiring components of otherembodiments. Moreover at all times with respect to all personnel,straining, overtiring and dangerous situations are avoided.

SUMMARY Apparatus for returning vehicle body and frame components totheir original locations during repair and servicing of vehicles isprovided in various embodiments, each center ing on the use of one ormore towers or pedestals including a length changing subassembly as thebasis of creating a restorative force applied in a selected direction toreturn one or more vehicle components to their original designedrelative location. The apparatus in all its embodiments: simplifies bodyand frame straightening operations; permits simple hookups for fastercorrection to damage at any point on a vehicle; reverses the damagesequencing of the wrecked car for a faster and more accurate body and/orframe correction; allows more freedom for workmen who do not have tomove over or under any supporting beams or other structures; eliminatesheavy lifting by personnel; pulls in any desired angular direction; fitsin minimum amount of space; sets up in buildings with low ceilings;complies with equipment specifications presented by both small, mediumand large shop operators; requires no pit but may be used in conjunctionwith one; needs no special surrounding building.

DRAWINGS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1, including locationdesignations noted respectively as subsections A, B, C and D is a sideelevation, with some portions broken away for illustrative purposes, ofa preferred embodiment of the apparatus being used to create restorativeforces applied to the vehicle shown;

FIG. 2, is a partial side elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1positioned to receive a vehicle which is electively either drivenforward on to the apparatus or backed on depending on where and how thevehicle is damaged;

FIG. 3, is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1,indicating, however, only the placement of the frame and some of thewheels of a vehicle; 7

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, indicate partially sectioned respective side, endand top views, of a body gripping clamp used particularly where onlybody portions and not heavier frame portions are available to receive arestoring force;

FIG. 4, is a partial cross section view of the embodiment of FIG. 1indicating structure, arrangement, and operation of apparatus withrespect to one tower, its force creating accessories and itsmultiposition attachment to other towers and their common attachedsupporting and servicing structures;

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C, indicate partially sectioned views relatedspecifically to FIG. 4 and more respectively to: adjusta' ble heightaccessories secured to a tower and used in determining the elevation ofa direct pulling force; some of the hydraulic accessories viewed atright angles with respect to their view in FIG. 4; and some of the crosssection structure of the radially positioned beam or arm structuresupporting the tower;

FIG. 5, is a view, primarily in section, taken along the line 55 of FIG.3, indicating the raised position of the rail or ramp subassemblies andboth their actuating accessories and safety brace accessories, as allappear when a vehicle is lifted into a horizontal position forundergoing repairs;

FIG. 5A, is a partial sectional view related to FIG. 5, indicating how acontrol is located to operate hydraulic accessories used in raising therails or ramps near or at their ends that are conveniently lowered toreceive a vehicle and thereafter raised to position the vehiclehorizontally while repairs are undertaken.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Introduction to all EmbodimentsThroughout all embodiments, the purpose is to provide apparatus that isquickly, safely and conveniently utilized to create one or morerestorative forces which create, in reverse, the forces originallycausing damage and/or misalignment. The embodiments of apparatus areoffered to meet the operational and economic specifications of allpersons so engaged in various sized shops as a part of the overallautomotive servicing industry.

In shops that do a large volume of frame and body alignments and anoccasional front end alignment, the machine shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3is ideal.

In respect to all those embodiments, most of the following objectivesare met: installation is made within a normal one stall area withoutaltering a building or without requiring any special wiring or plumbingbeyond a standard electrical plug and a compressed air outlet; a vehicleis tied down, pushed or pulled at any angle or height, with ample powerto bend any part of the vehicle without the use of heat ortime-consuming, back-breaking labor; all hookups are made, includingmany tiedown hookups, by an operator from a standing position, withoutlifting any heavy, awkward handling attachments or having to climb overor under any supporting beams; any good body man can operate theapparatus without receiving an extensive amount of instruction, theapparatus does not become a permanently fixed part of the building, onceit is installed; the apparatus does not require handling of heavy jacksor components; the apparatus is capable of pushing or pulling from onedirection or several directions at one time; the apparatus is designedto eliminate practically all physical strenuous lifting stooping andsquatting labor; operational capabilities of the apparatus is limitedonly by the operators imagination; the apparatus is capable of applyingpower from exactly the same angle of least resistance; the apparatus issimple enough to use throughout the range from a minor bumper alignmentjob to a major frame and body alignment job; the apparatus is used forfront-end alignments; etc.

In reference to using the apparatus of most embodiments, proceduresfollowed are: position a vehicle on or near the apparatus orientated sothe maximum of damaged portions of the vehicle is adjacent the range ofmultiple positions of the towers and then tie or secure the vehicle tothe rails or bumps; move towers to the desired angular positions andsecure them to the rails or ramps; place hooks and/or clamps of therespective chains or other tensioning members to the damaged portions ofthe vehicle and position the elevation determining accessories to guidethese tensioning members as they are passed on to the respective formsof the towers for securing there or over and back down to a moreconvenient securing location; and operate the controls to elongate thetowers creating the restorative forces used in pulling out the damagedvehicle components to their original or near original design relativelocations.

Embodiment Shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, Elongatable Towers RadiallyAdjusted About a Pedestal Secured to Inclinable I-Iolddown Ramps In FIG.1, a vehicle or car is shown positioned on the apparatus or machineusing a selected few hookups from among many that are available.Regardless of where the damage is on the vehicle or in what directionthe damage occurred, it is possible to pull it back in line from thesame angle the damage occurred By pulling at the damage from the sameangle as the point of impact, the metals have much less resistance,permitting a much faster, more accurate alignment job, almost completelyeliminating the use of heat, for straightening of critical parts,avoiding changes in the temper in metals causing weak spots or breakage.

The three pull towers 5 are adjustable to pull from any directiondesired. To move any tower, simply unscrew bolt 13 (see FIG. 4), pushtower around to the desired angle and reinstall bolt 13 and plate 14.Hook pull chain to damaged area and hookup is complete. With three pulltowers adjustable to pull at any height or angle, the frame and body ofthe damaged vehicle are all pulled back into alignment in the sameoperation, rather than pulling one and then the other, by pulling boththe frame and body at just the right angle and height. Such pulling cutsdown on the resistance, resulting in a much faster and better job.Construction of these pull towers allows the use of much larger andlonger actuating cylinders, that do not have to be handled by hand.

Subsection A shows the tiedown at front of car. Subsection B shows thetiedown further back on car. Subsection C shows the tiedown for pullingfrom the pull towers. While pull tower movement is stretching frame,auxiliary jack 44 applies pressure upwardly to the frame.

The series of crossmembers in each rail 9 provides a ready place fortiedowns at any angle or point on the rails 9, regardless of angledesired, as shown in subsections A, B, and C. Also there is no problemfinding a spot to set jacks 45 on rail assembly 9, for pushing up onbody or frame or both, as shown in subsection D.

The entire machine is mounted on a pedestal 3, hinged from the floor andsecured by lag-screws. The pedestal 3 is also an axis for the pulltowers 5, permitting the towers 5 to be positioned for pulls from anydesired angle. The hydraulic pump 55 is mounted inside the pedestal 3,for both protection and convenience. Pump 55 is activated by remotecontrol 49. Pump 55 is easily removable from pedestal 3 for servicing.

In FIG. 2, the apparatus or machine, is shown lowered at one endcompletely tilting it to receive a vehicle, not shown without usingremovable ramps. In order to lower it, a safety stand 69 must first bepulled and pivoted from its upright position which is automaticallytaken when the apparatus is tilted back up to its horizontal position.In such elevated horizontal position, any vehicle raised by theapparatus is sufficiently high so no pit volume in the building isneeded below the vehicle being repaired.

In FIG. 3, the apparatus or machine, is shown in a top view toillustrate the almost unlimited number of tie-down or anchoringlocations available along rail assemblies 9. Also indicated are themultiple radial positions of the pull towers 5. As shown, the towers 5are applying power in three different directions at one time. Also, theauxiliary jack 45 is pushing on a short link in the frame of the vehicleforcing it to bend in the desired location or spot. There is no losttime or heavy lifting in making hookups, since the pull towers 5 stayrigged for action at all times. The auxiliary cylinder 45 is a standardlO-ton body jack, hooked into the hydraulic system on the machine to beused as shown in subsection D and FIG. 3.

Rail assemblies 9 consists of a series of single beams 10 on edge,welded to a series of crossmembers 11. The two rail assemblies aremounted on two main crossmembers 15 which are welded to the pedestal 3,and they are also mounted on one crossmember 16 at the rear of themachine. The lift device is also fastened to the rear crossmember 16.The advantage'of fabricating the rail assemblies 9 in this manner is thecreation of spaces between the beams and regular spacings ofcrossmembers 11, making it a very simple operation to tie any vehicle toa rail assembly 9, regardless of angle or location required by eachrepair job.

Throughout the utilization of all apparatus of the various embodiments,special body clamps are provided and often used. Some cars do not haveframes and it is very difficult at time to find a place suitable fortying the car down, in order to pull as hard as necessary at times,without causing damage to an undamaged part of the car. However, usuallyon a unitized body there is a small flange on the lower part of the bodysill, that is a suitable tiedown location, provided you have clampscapable of holding on to this small flange. These clamps of FIGS. 3A,3B, and 3C are designed for this purpose and they are very simple touse. The clamp, placed in position, bolt 152 and nut 153 are tightenedsnugly to hold clamp until pressure is applied. The chain is hooked inthe space provided in part and, as pressure is applied, part 150 slipsback on parts 151, sinking teeth into the body flange. The harder thepull, the tighter the squeeze. It will not slip.

In FIGS. 4 and 4C, portions are broken away to indicate construction ofpull tower assemblies 5, pedestal assemblies 3, the hydraulic systemleading to and departing from hydraulic pump 55, and the locking devices13/11] to keep pull towers 5 in their respective selected radialpositions. There are two pull tower lock systems shown. The pin system111, is the most desireable of the two. The hydraulic cylinder 57, etc.,is tucked inside the pull tower poles 113. This enables the use oflarge, long cylinders and leaves the hookup ready to use at all timeswithout any handling of jacks, heavy attachments, etc. The only settingup required, is to adjust the height of pull and angle, merely bysetting idler assembly 101 to the desired spot on the pull tower pole113. This pull tower pole may be attached to many other types of framemachines not shown improving them considerably and it may be mounted inthe floor of a shop to provide a ready pull facility when needed onminor body repairjobs.

In FIGS. 4 and 4A and in all embodiments, an idler assembly 101 for eachpull tower 113 is adjustable to any desired height and angle. Set screwI24 holds idler assembly 101 at the desired location until pressure fromcylinder 57 is applied. As chain 102 is pulled, a resulting upward forceon one side of idler assembly 101 creates a binding action between itand tower pole 113. The harder the pull, the tighter this gripping orbinding action becomes thereby holding idler assembly 101 at the properheight and angle throughout the entire pulling operation utilized topull out damaged portions of a vehicle.

In FIGS. 4 and 4B, the hydraulic system is illustrated. After a vehicleis in place, the lift assembly shown in FIG. 5, is raised to thatposition as a valve type 41 located adjacent to it is opened. After theapparatus or machine is leveled, this valve is closed. Thereafter, othervalves 41 controlling fluid flow to other cylinders are selectivelyopened and closed to cause movement of their respective actuators. Anycylinder may be left under pressure while adjustments are made toothers. One

or more hydraulic cylinders may be regulated while keeping pressure onall those that previously received hydraulic liquid under pressure. Acentral pump 55, driven by an electrical motor or a compressed airmotor, selectively supplies hydraulic fluid under pressure through thesevarious valves 41 to actuators 44, and those actuators referred to aspull tower cylinders 57.

Although a hydraulic system is shown and described, compressed airactuators and mechanical actuators may also be used.

In regard to this embodiment presented in FIGS. 1 through 5, thefollowing numerals identify the following parts in reference to thespecific groupings indicated:

Hydraulic Components, and Related Components 40 Hydraulic hose to pulltowers; 41 Control Valves; 42 Bracket fastens control valve to machine;43 Clip to secure hydraulic hose; 44 Hydraulic cylinder, operating liftapparatus; 4S auxiliary jack, coupled into the hydraulic system; 46Nipple (body jack); 47 Jack attachments (body jack); 48 Remote controlline; 49 remote control switch; 50 Body jack attachments; 51 Hydraulichose to lift cylinder; 52 Hydraulic hose to auxiliary body jack; 53Hydraulic line junction box; 54 Hydraulic hose to pump assembly; 55Hydraulic pump (air driven or electric); 56 Plate supporting pumpassembly and junction box; and 57 Pull tower cylinder.

Lift and Stand Assembly1 60 Bracket holding Hydraulic Cylinder 44; 61Pins; 62 Brackets; 63 Upper anns; 64 Lower arms; 65 Shaft (cylinderpushes on this shaft to raise machine); 66 Mounting bracket (fastened tofloor); 67 Mounting bracket lag screws (fastens lift assembly to floor);68 Bracket; 69 Leg stand; 70 Jam nut; 71 Leg Bolt; 72 Shaft; 73 Stop;and 74 Brace.

Tiedown Attachments Tiedown or pull hook with chain hook slot for fastchain adjustment; 81 Tiedown chain; 82 Tiedown or pull hook; 83 Tiedownor pull hook; 84 Pull plates; 85 Shackles with chain hook slots (forfast adjustments) 86 Bolts (usually bumper bolts); 87 Chain hooks.

Pull Tower Assembly 5 101 Idler assembly; 102 Pull chains; 103 Upperpush rod cap with chain hook slot for chain adjustments; 104 Guideflanges for holding pull chain in center of push rod; 105 Push rod(Moveable up and down and will turn 360 degrees); 106 weld on pullplate; 107 Pull chain hook; 108 Holes for bolts or pins (for hookingpull towers into position) 109 Sleeve (used with pins 111); 110 Nut (ifbolts 13 are used); 111 Pin for securing pull tower; 112 Spacer flangesecured to pin 111; 113 Pull tower pole; 114 Upper part of pull towerpole brace; 115 Gussets (pull tower pole Brace) 116 Bar (welded insideof pull tower pole 113); 117 Flange (secured to cylinder 57 to keepcylinder centered); 118 Lower push rod cap; 119 Upper part of pull towerbeam; 120 Lower part of pull tower beam; 121 Inner brace (pull towerbeam welded to 119-120-122 and 113); and 122 End plate (Pull towerbeam).

Idler Assembly 101 123 Collar; 124 Thumb set screw; 125 Pin; 126Bracket; 127 Idler pulley; and 128 Brace.

Rail Assembly 9 l0 Beams in main rails; 11 Crossmernbers in rails; 12End crossmembers; 13 Anchor bolts or pins to secure pull tower to rails;14 Plate or washers under bolts 13: 15 Main crossmembers, supportingrails, welded to pedestal; 16 Rear crossmember, supporting rail assemblylift device; 17 upper section of crossmember 16; and 18 Moveablecrossmember, (Moveable between rails).

Pedestal Assembly 3 20 Pedestal; 21 Bracket; 22 Collar; 23 Flangecollar, welded to Pedestal 20; 24 Mounting bracket; 25 Mounting shaft,welded to Pedestal 20 and Flange 23; and 26 Door (Pump assembly liftsout through this door for service);

Body Clamps Clamp housing can be fabricated or forged; 151 Wedges withteeth attached; 152 Bolt; and 153 Nut.

Car Body B Car Frame F Other Embodiments on Pedestal Radially AdjustedElongatable Towers of FIGS. 1 Through 5.

SUMMARY OF ADVANTAGES The apparatus selected in one or more of itsembodiments performs the versatile function of pulling damaged parts indirections reversed from those causing such damage. The metals, withoutheating, are pulled back to their originally specified relativelocations or at least within the original factory designated tolerances.Depending on the volume and nature of jobs to be undertaken in a shop,the apparatus may be increased in size, function and capacity with addedcomponents being adaptable with no change or minor changes to previouslyacquired apparatus.

Throughout all components, the utilization of the pulling towers andtheir conveniently arranged selective positioning and holddownaccessories, results in quick and accurate setups requiring no liftingnor awkward stances or manipulations on the part of anyone in a shop whois repairing a vehicle.

I claim:

1. Apparatus to apply pulling force to a vehicle comprising:

a pedestal above which said vehicle is supported;

at least one vertical pull tower assembly pivotally connected to andmovable about said pedestal to a desired position relative to saidvehicle, said tower including means to vertically elongate said tower,and

pull means connectable between said vertically elongate means and aportion of said vehicle to apply said pulling force to said portion.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 including means movable on said tower to adjustsaid pull means whereby said pulling force is applied at a desired anglerelative to said tower.

3. Apparatus of claim 1 including a rail assembly attached to saidpedestal to receive and support said vehicle.

4. Apparatus of claim 3 wherein said rail assembly is pivotal to oneposition forming a ramp to receive said vehicle and to a second positionsubstantially perpendicular to said tower.

5. Apparatus of claim 3 including means to affix said vehicle to saidrail assembly.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means to verticallyelongate said tower is hydraulically actuatable.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pull means is a chain orcable.

8. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said pull towers arecylindrical.

1. Apparatus to apply pulling force to a vehicle comprising: a pedestalabove which said vehicle is supported; at least one vertical pull towerassembly pivotally connected to and movable about said pedestal to adesired position relative to said vehicle, said tower including means tovertically elongate said tower, and pull means connectable between saidvertically elongate means and a portion of said vehicle to apply saidpulling force to said portion.
 2. Apparatus of claim 1 including meansmovable on said tower to adjust said pull means whereby said pullingforce is applied at a desired angle relative to said tower.
 3. Apparatusof claim 1 including a rail assembly attached to said pedestal toreceive and support said vehicle.
 4. Apparatus of claim 3 wherein saidrail assembly is pivotal to one position forming a ramp to receive saidvehicle and to a second position substantially perpendicular to saidtower.
 5. Apparatus of claim 3 including means to affix said vehicle tosaid rail assembly.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said meansto vertically elongate said tower is hydraulically actuatable. 7.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pull means is a chain orcable.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said pull towers arecylindrical.